Welcome to the loooooong weekend, Delaware!
And we are pretty thrilled to see an early forecast that calls for 80 degrees and partly sunny Saturday; 79 degrees and partly sunny Sunday and 83 degrees and partly sunny Monday.
We aren’t sure if you are gearing up for a picnic, barbecue, roadtrip, beach weekend or Memorial Day observances, but the weather is ready to cooperate if that forecast stands.
Do remember your SPF, your cozy shoes and sunglasses, and be safe out there.
Reason for the season
Before we start talking about sun and fun … and pirates and strawberries … let’s talk about the holiday itself.
Memorial Day is of course Monday and it’s a solemn occasion when we remember and honor our war dead.
While many or most of us will have fun this weekend, it’s important to remember why we have the holiday in the first place and how it all began.
Memorial Day 2023:When is Memorial Day 2023, why and how we celebrate in Delaware
Headed to the Delaware beaches?
Though summer doesn’t officially start until June 21, “the season” begins at the Delaware beaches on Memorial Day weekend.
Multitudes of people will descend upon Lewes, Rehoboth, Dewey, Bethany and Fenwick this summer, all to experience Delaware’s brand of sun, surf and relaxation.
Maybe you’re one of them, or maybe you’re a hardened local who seesaws between tourist traffic rage and toes-in-the-sand-every-weekend bliss. Regardless, Delaware Online/The News Journal will offer this handy guide to the Delaware beaches every weekend this summer, with information on everything from weather to beach closures to things to do.
Weekend beach report:Headed to the Delaware beaches this Memorial Day weekend? Here’s your guide
We’ve reported an ocean of additional and timely beach news and roundups for your summer pleasure.
And we are gathering it all in one place for you for easy access all season long.
You’ll find stories about where to go, what to do, how to choose your favorite beach, where to eat, where to party and so much more.
One-stop beach 411:Delaware beach season 2023: Your guide to updates, roundups and the latest trends & news
Don’t sleep on Ryan Cormier’s local’s guide to the Delaware Beaches. you will thank us later as, with some backup from Shannon, has all the deets on every destination from where to park to what to do if it rains. Dive right in.
Reason for the season:Grab your flip-flops: A local’s look at everything you need to know about Delaware’s beaches
And just for fun, be sure to take our beach quiz to see which Delaware destination suits your personality and your family’s favorite vibe.
Can you talk like a pirate?
It’s that time of year when striped shirts, pencil mustaches and eye patches start popping up in Kent County, in the spirit of pirate fun.
The two-day Bowers Beach Buccaneer Bash returns will more pirate shenanigans, including a costume contest, bands, craft and period vendors, and a chance to explore the Bowers Beach Maritime Museum.
Hang out at the Buccaneer Bash near the Maritime Museum (3357 Main St., Frederica) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Free admission. Visit Facebook.com/BowersBeachMaritimeMuseum or (302) 222-6341.
Ship-shape fun
Do you feel like you haven’t lived it up enough this year? If so, you can right your wrongs by taking an adventure on the Kalmar Nyckel, the Tall Ship of Delaware.
For 2½ hours, folks will get a chance to cruise this popular and mighty vessel, while also learning of its history and other cool bits. Bear in mind, you’ll need to show up 30 minutes early for check-in.
The ship isn’t wheelchair accessible, so you’ll need to call (below) to see how they can accommodate your needs.
Enjoy a fantastic voyage on the Kalmar, which departs from historic New Castle (1 Delaware St., New Castle). Check-in is 11 a.m. Saturday. The ship departs at noon and returns at 2:30 p.m. Tickets are $40 for ages 12 or younger and $60 for adults. Visit kalmarnyckel.org or (302) 429-7447.
Poseidon adventures
The eighth annual Poseidon Festival is a four-day event that continues through Monday with live music, pirates, mermaids and more fun.
A chunk of the entertainment takes place at the Bethany Beach Bandstand. Here’s the full schedule of events.
On Saturday, is a costume contest:. the best-looking pirate or mermaid could win a prize.
Captain Jack (along with his crew) will be on tap to educate youngsters on pirate history. The night ends with a Luau at 7:30 p.m.
On Sunday, a live mermaid will perform underwater tricks for guests. The night will get capped off by a performance from the U.S. Navy Band Cruisers at 7:30 p.m.
The festival ends Monday with a VFW memorial service at the Bandstand.
The Poseidon Festival will flood your weekend with a special time near the Bethany Beach Bandstand (Boardwalk, Bethany Beach) at 7:30 p.m. Friday, 10:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Saturday, 1 to 7:30 p.m. Sunday and 11 a.m. Monday. Free event. Visit townofbethanybeach.com or (302) 539-8011.
Time to get fresh
It’s farmers market seasons, one of our favorite seasons. Asparagus, baby lettuce, ramps and fiddleheads, what’s not to like? Check out our guide here.
For weekly exclusive food and dining news, sign up for Patricia Talorico’s Delaware Eats newsletter here.
Looking to dine out?
We are thinking seasonal in a lot of our recent dining reporting.
And your appetite will reap the benefits.
Check out stories by Patricia Talorico and Shannon Marvel McNaught if you are headed to the beach and want to try something new and tasty.
Got some downtime?
Are you a newshound who knows more about what’s going on than anyone around you?
Well, do we have a quiz for you!
Fresh off the local headlines, we’ve created a weekly Delaware Online news quiz that will test your news IQ based on what happened the previous seven days.
Our quiz hits all our favorite topics – sports, food, history, politics and more. We release a new quiz every Friday, so look for it when you want to exercise those brain cells.
Andre Lamar contributed to this story
